Jewellery

With runway models looking like extras from eighties soaps such as 'Dynasty' or 'The Bold and the Beautiful', Autumn/Winter continues with a jangling explosion of colour and sparkle in a manner that Iris Apfel would be proud of. Statement jewels, the chunkier and gaudier the better clamour for our attention, with layering and logo-mania on repeat.

Since Pantone crowned Ultra Violet the colour of the year, there is a veritable rainbow of purple, lavender and indigo in the shops. Whether you are warm or cool skin-toned, there is a shade that will suit you, but if sporting the royal colour is not your style, turn to accessories for a more subtle nod to the trend. We love this selection of Jewellery for its sophisticated sparkle.

Quarterre is the luxury design studio that many people have never heard of and yet you will have seen their work everywhere. Have you ever wondered exactly who is behind the design of some of the most exclusive luxury cars in the world, or the style of the latest and greatest luxury yachts?

Quarterre’s four very talented designers are responsible for the limited editions of many of the top British and German luxury supercar brands as well as special editions of premium luxury luggage for these same iconic British cars and many other famous luxury brands.

Sunday 2 April saw the sale of the extraordinary The Macallan in Lalique Legacy Collection – a set of six stunning crystal decanters containing the rarest of The Macallan’s single malts aged from 50 to 65 years old – for US$993,000 at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong.

Although only 29 Swiss watchmaking and Jewellery brands attended the first ever show in 1917, this year’s Baselworld played host to no fewer than 220 companies. And as this major event in the sector draws once again to a close, Swiss exhibitors have amply proved their ability to marshall their powers of innovation and excellence and resist the current turbulence in the market.

This week marks a milestone for Queen Elizabeth II- she ascended the throne on the 6th February 1952- she has reigned for 65 years, longer than any other monarch in British history and this milestone has been declared her Sapphire Jubilee. Sapphires suit Her Majesty, matching the colour of her eyes and skin tone, so here we take a look at some of the most impressive pieces in her collection.

The depths of winter in which we now find ourselves has served as inspiration to many artists and designers. The snowflake, with its perfect symmetry and tantalisingly beautiful crystal structure has been rendered many times over in diamonds by artist jewellers throughout the last century. One jeweller, however, was key in popularising the motif in the 20th century: Carl Fabergé. He took the concept of ice and snow and made it his own, and how fitting that this should be done by a Russian jeweller, a country where the extremes of winter are harsher than most of us are used to.

Colour, Carat, Clarity and Cut... these are the four important characteristics by which gemstones (especially diamonds) are judged. Of the four, cut is the most important one, the one that brings the other three qualities together. Sacrifice cut for carat weight and you have a stone with poor colour diffusion and bad light reflecting properties. If the stone is not studied properly and the inclusions are not well disguised within a stone, the value plummets.

Two of the most astonishing pieces of Jewellery to be created since the French Revolution are to be auctioned at Christie’s Geneva on the 15th November. They consist of a necklace called Le Jardin d’Isabelle and earclips named Miroir d’Amour- appropriate Rococo nomenclature given the name of the creator: Boehmer et Bassenge.

Beautiful, mysterious opals... these very unique gems are top of the scale when it comes to superstitions associated with precious stones. They are traditionally the birthstone for October and their multi colour light refracting properties have inspired devotion and irrational fear in equal measure through the ages.